Muhammad Garba
A renowned Jigawa-based Islamic schooler Dr. Aminu Baba Waziri has revealed that Quranic verses have enjoyed and ordained parents to breastfeed their children with no option except under critical health challenges.
The cleric revealed this while delivering a lecture at an occasion for the celebration of World Breastfeeding Day, held at Manpower Development Institute, Dutse, Jigawa state capital.
Dr. Waziri noted that several verses in the holy quran talk on child breastfeeding described it as the most pleasant, clean, and safest food.
He however stated that the exclusive breastfeeding advocated by health professionals has no contradiction with the holy book, therefore he called on parents to abide by the professional advice in breastfeeding their children.
Speaking during the occasion, the Jigawa state first lady and wife of the state governor Hajiya Hadiza Umar Namadii charged mothers to list and abide by cultural, spiritual, and professional guidance in breastfeeding their children as generally agreed on no second alternative to it.
She then called on the state government to consider the implementation of six-month maternity leave for working mothers to strengthen the practice of exclusive breastfeeding in the state.
Commenting during the occasion which was organized by the state primary healthcare Agency in collaboration with UNICEF, the Permanent Secretary and Executive Secretary of the Agency Dr Kabiru Ibrahim Chamo said exclusive breastfeeding prevents children from many ailments and diseases.
He added that the child exclusively breastfed grows healthier with strong immunity, a sharp brain, and more potential to become productive in society.
